The early years

Prior to, and in the early period of the 19th century, 'missions' rather than parishes were established. Inverness-shire was divided by the Church authorities into West and North Districts. We could also be talking of Catholic chapels at this time rather than churches and parishes.

The Catholic Directory entries of 1845 and 1846 record that 'Beauly is served from Inverness', i.e. apriest would travel over from Inverness to offer Mass in Beauly. Before the present church was built there was a chapel recorded from 1843 onwards, which was in Croyard Road opposite the Church of Scotland. This chapel is now gone and on the site is a block of four flats. The priest stayed down towards the river in Ferry Road, Beauly.The 1849 Directory entry refers to 'Cath. Chapel, Beauly'. [Incumbent] A McRae [ordained in]... 1846'. It is interesting to note that there is an entry that refers to 'Wick - vacant' is 'Served from Beauly during summer.' Presumably because the herring fishing season would bring in large numbers of fishermen. The 1850 Directory entry gives the full name of the priest at Beauly - Rev. Alexander Macrae.

In the period leading up to the building and consecration of the red sandstone chapel in 1864, we have the following priests serving from Beauly:

1852 Rev. James Gordon

1854 Rev. James Gordon & Rev. Thomas Chisholm.

Death by PoisoningFather James Gordon died tragically on 22 Jan. 1856 aged 29 years. He, plus Father Angus MacKenzie (Eskadale) had travelled to Dingwall for a dinner with the Provost of Dingwall, with a view to discussing plans for a new chapel to be built in Dingwall. One of the Provost's domestic servants, mistakenly used the root of aconitum (deadly monkshood) instead of radish, in a sauce to go with the roast beef. Both priests died within hours from poisoning. This ties in with the dates of death noted on the headstones of Father James Gordon and Father Angus MacKenzie in Eskadale Cemetery, photographs of which can be seen here>>>.

St Mary's Chapel Opens for WorshipThe building of the chapel was paid for by the 12th Lord Fraser of Lovat. It opened for worship on Sunday 13th November 1864. It was named St Mary's and was the first proper Catholic chapel built in Beauly, at least in modern times.

The Reverend Thomas ChisholmWe have it on good authority, that when an elderly priest, Father Thomas resolutely refused to die. He just kept going on and on. And he was moved around sometimes as parish priest and often as an old priest who evidently acted as an Assistant. In Beauly he seemed to be forever coming and going.​

The Reverend Æneas Chisholm (1836-1918)

Born in Inverness on 26 June 1836, he was the fourth son of Colin Chisholm, solicitor. He was educated at Blairs College in Kincardineshire, then at the Scots College in Rome. At the age of 22 years, he was ordained a deacon on 1 May 1859 and a priest on 15 May 1859, returning to Scotland in 1860.

In 1890, he became the rector of Blairs College. He was awarded honorary degrees of Doctor of Divinity from Rome and Doctor of Laws from the University of Aberdeen.

At the age of 62, he was appointed the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen by the Holy See on 7 January 1899, and consecrated to the Episcopate on 24 February 1899.